Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies Using TREN: the Theological Research Exchange Network Susan A. Massey, Library Director susan.massey@iws.edu

TREN.com The Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN) is an index of over 22,749 theological thesis/dissertation titles, as well as conference papers, representing research from as many as 142 different institutions. Access TREN at tren.com Or go IWS.edu, Resources, Library, IWS Theses. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the link to TREN. You do not need to login to search TREN. Documents are available through the IWS Library subscription by e-mailing library@iws.edu, so IWS students, staff, and faculty don’t need to pay for TREN documents.

Searching TREN There is a very basic title/author search on the TREN home page: Search results can be limited to institution through the Advanced Search option. TREN searches are more limited than most databases. For an extended explanation of how to search, see the TREN search instructions.

Searching TREN: Advanced Search The Advanced Search allows you to limit to institution, so you can get a list of IWS dissertations by year. The Advanced Search also enables a subject search.

Searching TREN: eDocs On the TREN main page, click on eDocs. On the eDocs page, use the Search eDocs box for a basic keyword search. Click “more search options” for the advanced search.

Obtaining TREN Documents TREN is a title index, but offers full-text documents for a fee. The IWS library subscribes to TREN and can supply a limited number of electronic documents free to IWS students, staff and faculty each year. To request an electronic document from TREN, e-mail the title, author, and TREN order number to: library@iws.edu. Electronic copies of IWS theses in TREN are available free to IWS students, but must be requested through the IWS library via e-mail to library@iws.edu. Print documents in TREN are not part of the IWS subscription and must be purchased. You ask the library to purchase a TREN print document for you to check out through the IWS library.

library@iws.edu GET HELP If you need further assistance with your research, e-mail: library@iws.edu